Historic Centre of Prague

• Development of high rise constructions on the Pankrác Plain
• Lack of effectiveness of existing planning, management and conservation measures for the property
• Lack of a finalized Management Plan

Since the last Decision 36 COM 7B.73 (Saint-Petersburg, 2012), ICOMOS reviewed numerous documents submitted by the State Party (e.g. 2014 state of conservation report, 2015 draft Management Plan, restoration works Puhonice Park, restoration project of the Castle Alpine Garden, newly planned development project White Water Park, high-rise development on the Pankrác Plain) and provided extensive comments to the Czech authorities.

In 2016 and 2017, the World Heritage Centre requested the State Party to provide clarifications on a number of high-rise developments, as well as regarding planned extensive building within the property. On 21 February 2017, ICOMOS reviewed the report submitted by the Czech authorities on 23 September 2016. In the light of the above and after receiving information from the civil society, the World Heritage Centre requested the State Party on 10 August 2017 to provide further information regarding developments at the "Rezidence Park Kavcí Hory", as well as a detailed progress report, as a basis for the submission of a state of conservation report to the World Heritage Committee.

On 15 March 2018, the State Party submitted clarifications regarding the “Rezidence Park Kavcí Hory” project on Pankrác Plain, and, more generally, the construction of high-rise buildings on Pankrác Plain in the buffer zone surrounding the property. These submissions make reference to height limits suggested by the Committee, as part of Decision 32 COM 7B.86, noting that there are different interpretations regarding the extent of the Pankrác Plain and therefore where height limits should apply.

On 28 March 2018, the State Party also submitted a detailed state of conservation report, with an extensive number of annexes. The report is available on http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/616/documents/, and provides information:

• On current and planned development activities, including the construction of the V-shaped residential building known as "Epoque Towers" currently being completed and the planned development project "Rezidence Park Kavčí Hory";
• On progress in elaboration, by the Ministry of Culture, of an “Amendment of State Heritage Care Act”, the aim of which is to ensure an effective, transparent, predictable and professionally guaranteed method for managing the heritage of the Czech Republic;    
• On progress in drafting the Management Plan and the forthcoming Metropolitan Plan, as well as on the North-South Trunk Road, the Blanka Tunnel, and plans for restoration of the Vyšehrad and Žižkov stations, etc.;
• In regard to the planned construction of the "Rezidence Park Kavčí Hory" residential complex located next to the Central Park in Pankrác, the State Party reported that the construction project is composed of five shorter and three high-rise residential buildings connected by a base on the floor located in the territory of the Pankrác Plain near the "Pentagon" where the high-rise buildings of the former Czechoslovak Radio (today City Tower), Motokov (today City Empiria) and Hotel Panorama – Hotel Prague are situated. The State Party clarified the exact delineation of the territory proposed for such a development.

The State Party’s efforts in developing strategic documents, as well as revising the draft Management Plan following ICOMOS recommendations, as well as restoration and maintenance works are noted. The Committee should welcome these efforts and encourage the approval of all relevant legal documents and amendments, such as an “Amendment of State Heritage Care Act” to reinforce heritage protection and management, as well as inviting the State Party to strengthen the authority of the national institution in charge of the implementation of the Convention to enable it to focus major decisions on the retention of the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property. 

It is noted that the North-South Trunk Road is no longer being planned by routing the road through tunnels, but the plan is for a system of surface modifications.

The State Party concerns regarding the high-raise developments are noted. In 2017, ICOMOS concluded that the “Rezidence Park Kavčí Hory” project would add substantially to the harm caused by the existing tall buildings cluster. Nevertheless, in its decision, the Prague City Council’s Department of Heritage Management concluded that this project was not in conflict with the heritage preservation regulations for the given area. It is noted with concern that in several locations the newly-developed draft Metropolitan Plan proposes filling in the composition of existing dominant structures with new high-rise buildings.  

The Committee should express great concern at the lack of specific regulations available for high-rise developments, which may substantially impact on the OUV of the property, noting that, as a result there is a corresponding lack of stakeholder consensus. There have been unfortunate interpretations of part of Committee Decision 32 COM 7B.86 to confine the extent of height limits suggested in the Pankrác Plain area, thereby allowing taller buildings which are affecting the OUV of the property. The Committee should therefore request that the State Party intervene to cease such arbitrary interpretation of its previous decision regarding the height controls.  The completion of the high rise limitations plan should remove the possibility of future misinterpretation of Decision 32 COM 7B.86. Meanwhile, it is also appropriate for the Committee to request the State Party to introduce a moratorium on major projects within the property, its buffer zone and its wider setting, which may substantially impact on the OUV of the property, until appropriate regulations are developed and implemented.

Details and Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) of any proposed project, together with a cumulative HIA of the projects within the property, its buffer zone and its wider setting, focusing on potential impact on the OUV of the property, should be submitted to the World Heritage Centre, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, for review by the Advisory Bodies.

The Committee should strongly encourage the State Party to finalize the Management Plan and to implement all relevant measures and plans, defining appropriate degrees of intervention for each element of the property, its buffer zone and its wider setting, to prevent threats to its OUV.

Given the current situation, a Reactive Monitoring mission is needed to assess the overall state of conservation of the property, review all ongoing studies and proposals and assist with the identification of options regarding possible developments that are consistent with the OUV of the property, as well as to evaluate whether the property is faced with threats, which could have deleterious effects on its inherent characteristics, such that it meets the criteria for its inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger, in line with Paragraph 179 of the Operational Guidelines.